Turkey 's Women Volleyballers make history with 2012 London Olympics Qualification

Turkey’s Women’s Volleyball Team qualifies for London Olympics 2012 for first time ever, after beating Poland in 3 straight sets in Ankara, Turkey.

Ankara / NationalTurk – Turkey’s women volleyballers became the seventh women’s volleyball team to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics, beating Poland in the final of the European Olympic Qualification Tournament. World no. 11 Turkey won the tournament on home soil in Ankara in3 straight sets, 25-22, 25-22, 25-19.

‘ Sultans of the net ‘, a nickname well deserved secured a place at the 2012 London Olympics with a comfortable 25-22, 25-22, 25-20 victory over European Champions Poland on 6th May in Ankara, in the final of the European qualification for London Olympic games tournament.

The Turkish women become the first volleyball team, men’s or women’s to go to the Olympics representing Turkey , and only the second time Turkey will be represented in team sports after Turkey was present at the Olympics since the 1960 Rome Olympics. It’s an important event in the history of Turkey in the Olympics, a fact not missed by coach Marco Aurelio Motta.

Turkey ‘s Women Volleyballers make history with 2012 London Olympics Qualification

Prior to that date, Turkey was represented at Olympics six times in football and twice in basketball. No Turkish volleyball team has played in the Olympics before.

Thousands of Turkish fans cheered for the Turkish Women Volletball team in the game played on home soil in Turkish capital Ankara, paving the way for a historic victory for Turkish volleyball.

‘ This success did not come so easily,’ the coach noted. ‘ Every member of the team, the federation, as well as the spectators and the Turkish Volleyball clubs have contributed to this victory. This victory came step-by-step.’

Turkey found themselves behind in each of the first two sets before roaring back to take charge. Poland couldn’t handle the pressure and faded in the third set. More than 8,000 enthusiastic fans cheered on Turkey. Turkey showed immense willpower in the entire olympics qualification tournament and managed to come back despite having fallen behind vs Germany in the semi-final and then vs Poland in the finals.

Turkey Olympic squad had already secured the participation of 72 athletes in 2012 London Olympics, which is a record for the country.

‘ We are so happy, being in the Olympics is the dream of every athlete,’ Turkey star player Neslihan Darnel expressed. ‘ I would like to thank everybody, especially the fans who have never given up on us throughout this tournament.’ the Turkish beauty on the sport courts added.

12 countries to London Olympics for Women’s volleyball

Turkey joins Olympics’ hosts Great Britain with the win over Poland and the top three finishers at last November’s FIVB World Cup. Italy, the United States, and China have already been qualified. The day before Turkey won the European qualifier for 2012 London Olympics, the Dominican Republic advanced to the London Olympics by winning the NORCECA tournament. Africa qualifiers was previously won by Algeria.